Chapter 9 Chapter nine

The Russian army of 35,000 officers and soldiers commanded by Kutuzov was coldly received by the hostile residents when pursued by the 100,000 French troops commanded by Bonaparte. Regardless of the foreseeable war environment, the corps was forced to take military action, and retreated hastily through the lower reaches of the Danube, but stopped advancing in the area pursued by the enemy, and launched a rearguard battle only to cooperate with the retreat without losing heavy equipment.In the vicinity of Lambach, Amstetten, and Melk, the two sides fought, and the Russian army was recognized by the enemy for its valor and fortitude in confrontation; end.The Austrian army, which escaped capture near Ulm and joined Kutuzov at Braunau, is now separated from the Russian army.Kutuzov, understrength, poorly equipped and exhausted, had to let himself go.The defense of Vienna was out of question.During Kutuzov's stay in Vienna, the Austrian Military Senate had sent him a plan of offensive strategy based on new scientific laws as appropriate, but now Kutuzov's subordinates proposed to him an almost impossible goal. Abandoning the above strategy, its purpose is to unite the army from Russia, not to repeat the mistakes of Mark's loss of soldiers and generals in the outskirts of Ulm, and the entire army was wiped out.

On October 28, Kutuzov led his troops across the Danube to the left bank, where he was stationed for the first time, and divided with the main force of the French on both sides of the Danube.On the thirtieth Kutuzov attacked Mortier's division on the left bank of the Danube and routed it.In this battle, for the first time, the spoils were won: the standard, the cannon, and two enemy generals.After a two-week retreat, the Russian troops remained for the first time, and after a battle not only held the field but drove the French out.Although these armies lacked clothes and were exhausted, stragglers, casualties and sickness accounted for a third of the troops, weakening the troops; although some wounded and sick remained on the other side of the Danube with Kutuzov's handbook (the handbook implied: let The enemy gave them kind care); although the large hospital and housing in Krems have been converted into military hospitals, they still cannot accommodate all the wounded and sick. The victory raised the morale of the troops to a considerable extent.Cheerful, though untrue, rumors circulated throughout the army and in the headquarters of the imminent arrival of the Russian columns, of the great Austrian victory, and of the frightened Bonaparte retreating.

During the campaign, Prince Andrew served alongside the Austrian General Schmidt, who died in the battle.The horse he was riding was wounded, and he himself was slightly grazed by a bullet on one hand.Thanks to the special care of the commander-in-chief, he was sent to the Austrian court with news of the great victory; the threat of the French army aroused fear at the court, which was no longer in Vienna, but in Brunn.In the middle of the night of the battle, Prince Andrei was agitated, not sleepy, and although his body seemed weak, he could bear the fatigue better than the strongest men, and he mounted his horse and took Dokhturov with him. The intelligence went to Krems to pay a visit to Kutuzov.That night Prince Andrew was sent as a courier to Brunn.Performing the post of messenger, in addition to receiving rewards, also means that he has taken a big step towards promotion.

The night was full of stars, and the road in the white snow was even darker. It snowed the day before, that is, the day of the battle.Prince Andrei sometimes recalled the impressions of the battle that had just ended one by one, and sometimes he happily imagined the impression that the news of victory he was about to convey would make. Speeding in the car, he harbored that feeling in his heart, like someone who has waited for a long time and is finally beginning to achieve the happiness he has longed for.He had only to close his eyes to hear the sound of guns and cannon in his eardrums, mingling with the sound of the wheels and the impression of great victory.It seemed to him now and then that the Russians were running and that he himself was dead; but soon he awoke with happiness, as if realizing that nothing had happened, and as if the French officers and soldiers had fled instead.He recalled the details of the great victory and his calm and valor in battle, and he dozed off with peace of mind... After the dark starry night came the sunny and merry morning.The snow melted in the sun, the horses galloped fast, and on the left and right sides of the road, unfamiliar colorful forests, fields and villages flashed past.

At one station he overtook a convoy of Russian wounded soldiers.An escorting Russian officer was lying lazily on the wagon in front with his arms and legs stretched out, yelling and swearing at the soldiers.Several German-made long-body carriages bumped along the flagstone road, each carrying more than a half-dozen pale, bandaged, and filthy wounded.Some of them were talking (he heard Russian accents), others were eating bread, and the most seriously wounded were silent, looking with docile, painful and childish expressions at the messenger galloping past them. . Prince Andrew ordered his men to stop, and asked one of the soldiers in what battle they had been wounded.

"Wounded on the Danube the day before yesterday," replied the soldier.Prince Andrew took out his wallet and handed over three gold coins to the soldier. "It's for you all," he added to the officer approaching him. "Heal your wounds, comrades," he said, turning his face to the soldiers. "There are still many battles to be fought." "How is it, Mr. Adjutant? What's the news?" asked the officer, looking like he wanted to have a chat. "Good news! Go on." He called to the stagecoach driver, and galloped on. When Prince Andrew drove into Brunn, it was already dark, and he saw tall buildings around him, the windows of shops and houses were brightly lit, and rows of street lamps shone with dazzling brilliance. It was the atmosphere of a bustling big city, and it was very attractive to a soldier who had spent his time in the barracks.Although Prince Andrew rode fast and stayed up all night, as he approached the palace he felt more refreshed than he had the previous night.Only his eyes shone with fanaticism.His thoughts are numerous and come one after another, and his thoughts are extremely quick and clear.The detailed plot of the battle emerged vividly in his mind. This kind of imagination is no longer vague, but logical.He wanted to tell Emperor Franz the truth simply and concisely.The occasional questions and the answers he gave came alive in his mind.He thought that someone would take him to the emperor immediately.But in front of the main gate of the palace, an official ran to him, recognized him as a messenger at a glance, and led him to another gate.

"Euer Hochgeboren, turn right along the corridor, and you will find the aide-de-camp on duty," the official said to him, "and he will take you to the Minister of War." ① German: adults. The aide-de-camp on duty received Prince Andrew and asked him to wait a while, and the adjutant went to the Minister of War.Five minutes later the aide-de-camp returned, bowing with special respect, letting Prince Andrew go ahead, and leading him through the corridor into the office of the Minister of War, who was embarrassing for military affairs.The aide-de-camp was polite and very modest, as if asking the Russian adjutant not to be too polite to him.When he reached the door of the Minister of War's office, his pleasant feeling was greatly diluted.He felt humiliated, and that feeling of humiliation turned into unreasonable contempt in an instant before he knew it.At that very moment the quick-witted mind suggested to him a reason entitled to contempt for the adjutants and ministers of war. "They probably think that they can win without any effort without smelling gunpowder!" He thought for a while.His eyes narrowed contemptuously.He entered the office of the Minister of War and Government very slowly.He felt this all the more when he saw the Minister of War sitting at a large desk, ignoring anyone who came in for the first two minutes.The minister of war and government bowed his bald, grizzled head between two candles, while he read his papers and made notes with a pencil.When the door opened and he heard footsteps, he went on reading the papers without looking up.

"Take the paper and send it on," said the Minister of War, addressing his adjutant, and handing him the paper, ignoring the messenger. Prince Andrei had already felt that either, in matters that preoccupied the Minister of War, he had no interest in Kutuzov's actions, or that it was necessary to make the Russian messenger aware of it. "But I think it's the same anyway." He thought for a while.The Minister of Military and Political Affairs pushed the rest of the documents aside and arranged them neatly before looking up.He has a smart head and a stubborn personality.But at the moment when he turned his face to Prince Andrew, the intelligent and resolute expression on the face of the Minister of War seemed to change abruptly and consciously from habit.A foolish, false, undisguised smile on his face, the way someone smiles when he sees a crowd of petitioners.

"You come from Marshal Kutuzov?" he asked. "I hope you have good news, don't you? Was there a military conflict with Mortier? Was it won? It's time!" He picked up an urgent telegram with his name on it, and began to read the message with a worried expression. "Oh! My God! My God! Schmidt!" he said in German, "what a misfortune! what a misfortune!" He glanced at the telegram, put it on the table, and looked at Prince Andrew, apparently thinking of something. "Oh, what a misfortune! Is this a decisive battle, you say? But Mortier has not yet been captured (he thinks.). Although Schmidt's death is a high price to pay for the victory." , but I am very glad that you have brought good news. Your Majesty may be eager to see you, but not today. I thank you and go to rest. Come to worship after the parade tomorrow. It is best for me to inform you. "

The foolish smile which had vanished during the conversation reappeared on the face of the Minister of War and Government. "Good-bye, thank you very much. Perhaps the King would like to see you," he repeated, bowing his head. When Prince Andrew came out of the palace it seemed to him that all the benefits and happiness which the victory had brought him had now been thrown away by him and passed into the cold hands of the Minister of War and his humble aide-de-camp.All his thoughts were changed in an instant.It seemed to him that the battle was a memory of a distant past.